Railway mail-bag crane



April 3, 1928. Y 1,665,056 M. J. DAVIS RAILWAY MAIL BAG CRANE Filed June 6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l v Inventor Marion 17. Da Wis Attornqy April 3, 1928.

M. J. DAVIS RAILWAY MAIL BAG CRANE Filed J n 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ln'ventdr Marion t]. Davis M. J. DAVIS RAILWAY MAIL BAG CRANE April 3, 1928. 1,665,056

Filed June 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Marion filliavzls Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

:UNITED STATES MARION J. :onvrsor BRINKLEY, ARKA-ivsAs.

RAILWAY MAIL-BAG CRANE.

-App1ication filed June 6, 1927. Serial-No, 196,834.

The present invention relates to what is 'known-in the art as arailway ma l bag crane, that is, a device which is adapted to support a mail bag or the like, in a posltion alongside of the track to facilltate release of the bag from the crane by automatic means on a moving train.

In order to permit" the automatic grab device on the "train to operate properly, the bag must be supported from the crane at the proper elevation. 'The'elevation is usually such-as-to make it necessary for the attendant to stand on a special platformor to climb up in order to put the bag in posltion on the supporting arms of the crane.

WVhat I propose is a crane which comprises a stationary standard of sufficient height having a slidable arm carrier thereon,

"this carrier being capable of moving to alow position to facilitate application of the bag whereupon it can be lifted up and held in elevated position for removal of the bag by the automatic means on the train.

Briefly, the improved apparatus comprises a stationary base, aspecial standard rising therefrom, a carrier mounted on. the standard, pivoted arms on the carrier capable of being moved to retracted position or extended position as desired, lifting means for the carrier, and co-acting means between the carrier and standard whereby thecarrier can be supported in upper and lower position.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved crane showing thecarrier in its uppermost or elevated position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is also a side view showing the carrier in its lowermost position with the supporting arms retracted.

Figure 4; is an enlarged cross section through the lower portion of the structure showing the lifting foot pedal.

Figure 5 is a View of the opposite side of Figure 3, showing the carrier hoisted and held in an intermediate position to facilitate placement of the bag by the attendant.

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 5, showing the carrier moved to its uppermost position.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lower bag holding arm.-

Figure 8 is a cross section on the line 88 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the up per arm.

Figure 10 isa fragmentary perspective view ofthe upper end portion of theicarrier.

Referringnow to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference character 11 designates the vertical standard which is provided at its bottom with a 'pair of attaching feet 12 adapted to be rigidlyanchored to an appropriate support, in order to dispose the device in proper relationship to the moving train. This standard is provided at its top with a guide loop, and just belowthis loop (see Figure 5) one side is notched to provide an upper-seat 13. The same side is also notched to provide alower or intermediate seat l l, (see Figure 6).

Pivoted on one side of the lower portion of the standard is a foot pedal 15,'havi-ng an enlarged head 16 at one end which serves in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The carrier is generally designated ,bythe reference charact'ed '17 and it is slidably mounted 'onthefstandard. In order to do this, I provide apair of arms 18 fastened to the intermediate portion of the carrier and straddling the standards. Also, as shown in Figure 8, a hooked finger 19 is provided'for aiding in maintaining the parts in assembled relation. As representedin Figure 5, the carrier is provided with diagonal cleat'20 cooperable with a similar 'cleat 21, on the standard. These cleats operate to provide stops as represented in- Figure 6, to limit the upward movement of the, carrier. The upper end portion of'the carrier is bifurcated, the furcations being represented at22 and these being offset to form a shoulder at 23.

The carrier is also provided with outstanding hand grips 24, to aid in manipulation of the same. In addition it is provided at its bottom and on one sidewith a notch for reception of the head 16 of the foot pedal. This is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The upper bag supporting arm is designated by the reference character 25, this being of the configuration shown in Figure 9. The inner end portion thereof is provided with an enlargement pivoted between the furcations 22 and adjacent this enlargement it is provided with a flattened foot or abutment 26, which is adapted to rest upon the shoulder 23. Adjacent this abutment, we find outstanding pins or studs 27 adapted to engage in the seats 13 and 14. Also on the outer end is a cross head 28 fashioned to otally mounted on the aforesaid blocks 18 is V the lower arm 30, of the shape shown in Figure 7. This arm carries a fiat spring 31, "which in turn has a cross head 32 mounted thereon, over which the lower loop on the mail bag is adapted to engage. The purpose of the sprlngis to maintam a tension onthe bag, so that it is yieldably extended. Normally the partsof the apparatus are in'the position shown in Figure 3, wherein the head onthe foot pedal is received in the notch in the lower end of the carrier 17.

At this time, the arm hangs down and the arm 25 is in the inclined retracted position shown. Upon placing the foot on the pedal and movingit down to the position shownin Figure 5, the carrier is lifted up partially, so that the studs 2'? are received in the seat 14 onthe standard. This allows the arm 25 to assume a depending position and when the bag is hung on this arm and the complemental arm is lifted up and the lower loop on the bag is engaged with the cross head 32 on this arm. Now, the handles 24 are gripped and the carrier is slid up to the third or uppermostqposition where the studs 27 ride into the seat 13. Then the parts are in the position shown in Figure 6, which is' the position taken for depending the bag or removal by the automatic means on the train. The advantage of this arrangement is that the attendant can stand on the ground and place the bag in position on the carrier and then slide the carrier up to the position shown in Figure 1. VVhen in the last named position, the cleats 20 and 21 come together to limit theupward sliding movement of the carrier. t

"It is thought that by considering the detailed description in connection with the drawing, a clear understanding of the construction and operation of the invention will be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description isbelieved to be unnecessary. Minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

1; In' a mail bag suspension crane of the class described, a standard, attaching feet at thebottom of the standard, an elongated guide at the upper end of the standard, upper and lower seats formed on said standard, a carrier slidableon said standard, upper and lower arms pivotally connected to said carrier, the upper arm extending through said guide and being provided with a stud adapted to be selectively received in said seats, together with afoot pedal pivotally mounted on said standard and cooperable with the lower end of the standard for lifting the carrier to dispose the stud in said lowerseat. i l

2. In a mail bag suspension crane of the class described, a standard, supporting feet guideat the upper end of the standard, up-

at the bottom of the standard, an elongated per and lower seats formed on one side of a, the standard, a carr er, means for slidahly connecting the carrier with the standard,

said carrier being bifurcated at its upper end, an armpivotally connected with the furcations, said arm extending through said guideand being provided intermediate its ends with outstanding studs adapted for selective reception in said seats, a cross head on the free end of said arm, a second arm pivotally connected to said carrier disposed below said first arm, a spring carried by said second arm, anda cross head carried by said spring.

ture'.

In testlmony whereof I atlix my signa- 

